University of Bologna: UNIBO has large expertise in the organization and implementation of academic mobility, students and staff, and management of mobility schemes. UNIBO has participated in the Erasmus program since its very beginning gaining 30 years experience of managing mobility flows in Europe and tackling the challenges the Bologna process proposed in terms of harmonizations of HE systems, credits systems, recognition, etc. UNIBO has a central International Relations Office of around 40 people (permanent and non permanent staff). Among other tasks and responsibilities, the IRO takes care of management aspects of mobility flows. The office has developped on the experience gained in the contexts described below high level services to manage incoming and outgoing mobility, including pre-departure preparation, welcome services, etc. Moreover, UNIBO has been a very active institution under the Erasmus Mundus Action 2 programme gaining strong capacity in the design and management of mobility schemes realized by multilateral consortia and through big budgets (4mln €). UNIBO was a very active institution in former Lifelong Learning Programme, ALFA and TEMPUS programmes and is currently active within the Erasmus+ programme, including KA2 Capacity Building in the Field of Higher Education, (https://www.unibo.it/en/international/european-projects-of-education-and-training) developing strong experience in the management of EU projects.
In 2018 UNIBO has been first in Europe in terms of mobility flows under the Erasmus+ program (2.776 outgoing students; 2.231 incoming students). UNIBO has more than 200 general bilateral agreements with partner universities outside the EU and has its own flagship program to send out its students to spend an academic mobility abroad through which around 400 students are sent every academic year and more than 800 incoming students are received. UNIBO actively participated since its beginning to the Erasmus Mundus Action 2 programma and previous External Cooperation Window programme. In this framework UNIBO has joined as a partner 49 projects and has coordinated 4 projects that have been successfully implemented.
The Department of Industrial Engineering has a wide expertise in research and teaching over laser technologies and its applications (e.g. biology, Cutting & Welding of Bulk Metals, Surface Heat Treatment, Surface Heat Treatment). It offers subjects and courses centred on laser at master and PhD level. Gruppo Laser is one of its leading research groups dedicated to knowledge development and innovative solutions for laser-based manufacturing, providing services ranging from development and optimisation of new and existing laser processes to client-specific prototype solutions and training. With decades of combined experience between research staff and professors, the group studies the physical phenomena resulting from laser-material interactions and develops more efficient and optimised industrial laser-based operations. Thanks to advanced equipment and facilities the group has developed many research projects in fields such as Laser Ablation, 3D, Surface Heat Treatment. Many research projects are also developed in collaboration with companies and industries in the sector. Experiences have been developed in the support of both SME and large companies in the Emilia Romagna region in the fields of automatic machine manufacturing and in the tool manufacturing sector.